National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III athletic directors and the need for initial eligibility standards

The purpose of this research was to determine if National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III needs an initial eligibility rule. Subjects were 14 athletic directors from two NCAA Division III athletic conferences. Data were analyzed and the results were reported in frequencies and percentages. The percentages were shown in the following areas: university and athletic director demographics; eligibility rules; and athletic directors experience and their opinion on an eligibility rule. The athletic directors showed favor towards an initial eligibility rule by just a slight margin of 57%, although the reasoning for supporting and disagreeing with it was varied. Previous research pertaining only to Division III had not been produced prior to this study. Suggestions include a push toward a Division III initial eligibility rule but institutions still need freedom to admit students of all academic levels and those with learning disabilities. The research does not intend to speak for all Division III institutions, but simply to make athletic directors as well as the NCAA aware of the need for initial eligibility.School of Physical EducationThesis (M.A.